The Column
What?
Yes this is just a Column about how good my backpack is. I wrote one about my other backpack 8 years ago. I like this bag better than that one.
I updated the Tools I Use page to include this MacBook Neo and realized I didn’t include my bags. That lead to this.
NOT SPONSORED1
Osprey Daylite Plus - My Favorite Bag
The Osprey Daylite Plus is not a bag you’ll hear talked about much places like Carryology or Pack Hacker.
It’s not tacti-cool like Goruck or 5.11.
It’s not technical like Nomadic or Peak Design.
It’s not fashionable like Fjällräven or Bellroy.
It’s not luxury like AER or Evergoods.
It’s not sexy.
It’s the Toyota Corolla of backpacks.
It doesn’t need to turn heads. It’s pragmatic, dependable, and hard to find faults with. The layout is A+.
Balanced.
Tradeoffs
There is no such thing as a “solved problem” or a free lunch. Everything is a tradeoff – and the best designs are intentional with their tradeoffs.
The Daylite Plus knows what it was optimizing for.
Anything, but Not Everything
This bag is small and lightweight. It doesn’t need bulk, structure, and highly padded straps because it can’t be packed heavily.
The Daylite Plus is meant to go onto your back, then disappear – which it does.
No other backpack nor sling I’ve ever used is as easy to forget I’m wearing as this one. It goes on, then I forget it’s there – in the best of ways.
Every pocket is minimalistic and easily accessible. Every pocket can be overstuffed to accommodate a surprisingly bulky item… but you cannot load every pocket that way at the same time.
Example
- You can load a soccer ball, but not a soccer ball and a laptop.
- You can load two huge water bottles, but not two huge water bottles and a lunchbox.
- You can load a jacket + small umbrella, but not a jacket + small umbrella and your tech pouch.
Example Load Outs
These aren’t hypothetical load-outs. These are things that I have used the bag for within the past month and a half. Most of them have Everyday Carry Pouch.
Work
- Notebook
- Sunglasses
- Everyday carry pouch
- Water bottle
My most-used load out.
Travel Personal Item
- Toiletry bag (“Dopp Kit”)
- Laptop & iPad
- Everyday carry pouch
- Small clothes packing cube
- Sunglasses case
- Big water bottle
This is as “maxed out” as the bag can realistically get. With this loadout, it’s starting to get overfull and difficult to pull things out of… but it works and it gives me more than I realistically need for the airport.
Coffee Shop Trip
- Book or notebook
- Laptop
- Water bottle
- Everyday carry pouch
A pretty common loadout for me. Coffee shops. Trip where I might need to kill time.
Bike Trip to the Playground
- Big water bottle
- Sunglasses
This is honestly where this bag shines. It’s so lightweight and inexpensive I don’t feel the need to be precious about it. I throw it on my back even if it’s just to carry one thing.
Aside: Evergood Civic Access Pouch 2L
This is an awesome general-purpose pouch I treat as my real EDC. I recommend this one for the more “gear appreciative” amongst us.
ALSO NOT SPONSORED.2
This load out is designed to be taken on planes (or anywhere) without needing to remember to “take out my knife” or something like that.
Top 5: Easiest Purchase Recommendations I’d Make
Caveat
My biggest recommendation: Don’t buy anything if you don’t need anything.
But if you happen to be in the market for any of these things, here’s my “oh yeah definitely” list.
This list accounts for value out versus cost in.
5. Index Cards
This is more of a nod to my interest flavor of the month than a genuine suggestion - but they are massively cheap and massively useful. See here.
4. Chromecast (RIP)
Before it was Killed by Google, the Chromecast was a revolutionary device. It recognized a gap in the market and filled it perfectly.
3. A Box Fan
So cheap. So under appreciated. Can keep mosquitoes off you. Can make a hot room suck way less. Can be converted to a DIY air purifier pretty easily. Box fans are a great use of ~$20.
2. The MacBook Neo or Mac Mini
Apple’s bottom-of-the-line Macs are really good. There’s very little chance you need more than the entry-level Mac.
1. Osprey Daylite Plus
See body of Column.
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